AI upscalers breathe life into pixelated logos, old photos, and low-res screenshots. Instead of simple interpolation, they predict missing detail. Here's how to pick the right tool and avoid artifacts.
Top Upscaling Tools
- Topaz Gigapixel AI (desktop, paid): industry-leading detail recovery with batch processing.
- Pixelcut Upscaler (web): free 4× upscales, great for ecommerce shots.
- Icons8 Upscaler (web): sharpens edges while preserving skin tones.
Workflow
- Upload the original image--avoid screenshots of screenshots.
- Select 2× or 4× enlargement. Start with 2× to maintain realism, then go higher if needed.
- Choose the right model (e.g., "Standard" for photos, "Lines" for UI/illustrations in Gigapixel AI).
- Preview the result and dial back noise reduction or face refinement if the subject looks plastic.
Post-Processing
After upscaling, retouch in Photopea to fix any remaining noise or haloing. Apply mild sharpening (amount 40%, radius 0.8 px).
Use Cases
- Restore archival images for presentations.
- Upscale small logos for print without recreating them from scratch.
- Improve clarity of UI screenshots before adding annotations.
Finish in uBlur
Once the image is crisp, open it in uBlur to blur sensitive text, highlight features, or add captions before sharing.